Youth Tour Facts

What: An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to tour national historic sites, experience cultural diversity, meet U.S. congressional representatives, and learn about electric cooperatives and the energy industry

Who: High school students and their peers from around the nation who have won contests at their local electric cooperatives

Why: Because then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, an advocate of rural electrification, suggested in 1957 “sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents”

Where: Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

When: 7 days in June

How: Students who win their electric co-op’s contest earn sponsorship valued at more than $4,500 for the trip, organized by Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Want To Go?

Local electric cooperatives have individual methods for selecting Youth Tour winners. Many hold annual competitions such as essay, speech or video contests. Each winner’s travel expenses—valued at more than $4,500—are covered by her or his co-op and other sponsors, and coordinators at Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association handle all the arrangements. 

If you’re a Texas high school student, discover how to apply for the next Youth Tour. Start by finding your cooperative here.

Sample Itinerary

The action-packed Youth Tour includes stops at major historic and government sites on an itinerary that is beyond the reach of the average tourist.

Download a PDF of the sample itinerary.